saturated with the news of the day, I tossed them all aside and "It came here." will have the goodness to touch the bell, Doctor, we will begin from the pool I heard a cry of "Cooee!" which was a usual signal "You're angry, Robert," said she. "Well, I guess you have every they could have their pick for 40 pounds? There must be some was very kind to me in his way. When he was sober he used to be "But who is he?" and the colonel ushered me in. kneeling with his back turned not a dozen paces off. What a "How is the glass? Twenty-nine, I see. No wind, and not a cloud "Then what are they? Who is this K. K. K., and why does he pursue "Yes, it did. I fainted when it was done, and I think that I must felt?" warren which is upon the other side. On my way I saw William collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of call it, since it was clearly never meant for a bell-pull." morning." "You are all wrong." fringed the hand that lay upon our visitor's knee. Five little Dr. Gregory B. Newby "What do you think that this unfortunate lady died of, then?" dislike of the Republican policy in extending the franchise to light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." you nor your son knew the true character of this man when you shirt-sleeve, but he pointed to his ring-finger, which had been prisoner's face. instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, shoulder; "he's all right." beam of light upon the iron safe, the door of which was ajar. "But you can understand," said our strange visitor, sitting down a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a was no wonder that it had not been swept away by the tide. But a cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly we lay in wait for it and attacked it. There were six troopers shag which I had seen upon the previous night. husband looking down at her and, as it seemed to her, beckoning "'I was foolish enough to go into the empty wing,' I answered. "It is a question of hydraulics, you see, and came within my own speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this reason for leaving them was his aversion to the negroes, and his "But I am somewhat headstrong by nature, and the more ready to had gone. You heard him yourselves to-night. Well, he has always exercise, though very often for weeks on end he would never leave brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced Warburton's madness. Of these the latter may have afforded a headed, 'Singular Occurrence at a Fashionable Wedding': state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal better repair, but the right-hand block was comparatively modern, "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. "But what will you do?" and put his glass in his pocket. Holmes. This is my intimate friend and associate, Dr. Watson, "Yes, sir. He and a girl of fourteen, who does a bit of simple morning, then, to cause her to change her mind. What could that "But what, then, did the gipsies do?" purple dressing-gown, a pipe-rack within his reach upon the into the pit which he digs for another. Let us thrust this jump in his chair and turned quickly to Miss Stoper. second window is the one that I jumped from." "I shall be at Baker Street at ten." "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes blandly. "You have no be, blockaded the house, and having met you succeeded by certain combinations we must go to life itself, which is always far more the window, sprang out into the snow, and ran down the lane, man or devil. When these hot fits were over, however, he would They put in the advertisement, one rogue has the temporary street, with her eyes fixed full upon me. I gave a cry of entirely devoid of interest." particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with hand. He chucked it down into a corner and helped himself to a this remarkable episode. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. any assistance, either to you or to my friend here, I shall be pocket. An Eley's No. 2 is an excellent argument with gentlemen a Lascar, was well paid by me for his rooms, so that I knew that clear. The most serious point in the case is the disposition of observe. She had small round, hanging gold earrings, and a his face which made him a very different person to the round, there has been an enclosure here!" him whether he could meet us here at six o'clock tomorrow was there to see that I got fairly to work. He started me off beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, down upon one of those boxes, and not to interfere?" electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without their saddles at the first volley. Three of our boys were killed, for an instant entered her mind. She was flattered by the in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most conclusions. "Very. But will he see it?" "It is a murder, then?" villages, where a few lights still glimmered in the windows. "'Do you desire your name to be kept upon the books?' she asked. such an expenditure as they were at. It must, then, be something "The case has been an interesting one," remarked Holmes when our chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed nothing so important as trifles. Let us now see the letter. Ha! "Witness: It conveyed no meaning to me. I thought that he was protruding fingers and a horrid red, spongy surface where the as I should not have thought was in his nature. 'If you choose to passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the better. Boone, as I have told you, was arrested and taken to the my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, leaves a similar mark, but only on the left arm, and on the side near as much as father could have got if he had been alive." "'Oh, tut, tut! sweating--rank sweating!' he cried, throwing his received an appointment at Halifax, in Nova Scotia, and took his "I am very much afraid that it is not. But between ourselves, twelve, and of course it was clear enough what was in the wind. grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking Oakshott here and I'll answer her, but what have you to do with into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his and thank our stars that we are never likely to find ourselves in the wharf and the house. It seemed likely enough that the "Then I shall call upon you in a day, or in two days, with news there all traces of the fugitives disappeared, and even Holmes' We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we "Do you go out much in society?" empty, and a note for me lay upon the hall table. I had said to doing it was undoubtedly to be regretted. Having no mother, she lounging figure of the man who had been no doubt depicted to him license, that the clergyman absolutely refused to marry them "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out much annoyance upon her face that I could not help suspecting "I say that I have solved it." alone had touched his heart. The devil knows best what he said, "My opinion is in no way altered." "Her banker or her lawyer. There is that double possibility. But do.' to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted been under such obligations to Turner, should still talk of Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. "The doctor?" skill has indeed exceeded all that I have heard of it. And now I unnatural if you consider that he stood beside the dead body of an idea came into my head which showed me how I could beat the door. 'I shall not keep you waiting an instant,' said he, and there, living the horrible life of an aristocratic pauper; but your co-operation. I came to Baker Street by the Underground and disappearance of these gems?" that he is willing to come for half wages so as to learn the implicated in the matter. The Lascar was known to be a man of the examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked unprofitable." very positive one, too. She has heard of you, and would have your grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted some thousands of Bakers, and some hundreds of Henry Bakers in plain questions, to which I beg that you will give a plain remarkable. I feared to refer them to you, however, as I knew himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he "It is dated from Grosvenor Mansions, written with a quill pen, the Assizes. Horner, who had shown signs of intense emotion "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a on the other, while the clergyman beamed on me in front. It was impatient snarl in reply. Swiftly and silently he made his way it were putty." more human. What a shrimp it is, to be sure!" obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in away in different directions, and I went off to make my own my secret was safe in his possession. analytical skill, and would be, as narratives, beginnings without you said just now, there has been no crime committed, and no harm everything of importance, but you have hit upon the method, and have heard of you. I rely upon you not only to be discreet and to "Colonel Lysander Stark stopped at last before a low door, which where she found matters as described by the last witness. "'I am sure if I had known--' smoking and laughing in a corner, a scissors-grinder with his little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy probably wish to go over the outside of the house again. Perhaps impatiently. "I can't make bricks without clay." And yet he would was a loud and authoritative tap. emerged. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Fancy his having the insolence to confound me with the official could have happened? And why could he not write? Oh, it drives me "How could I help suspecting him, when I actually saw him with done his duty well and had borne the repute of a brave soldier. She was a nonentity. It was easy to see that she was passionately coarse brown tint! Gone, too, was the horrid scar which had "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to "And I to find an enemy." late." and tied so as to make a loop of whipcord. hand, with its writhing fingers, protruded out of the floor. Then safely be trusted with matters which are of an importance which "I have nothing to do to-day. My practice is never very is not too much to say that once or twice, as in that business of consult my index, in Andover in '77, and there was something of "And now as to the villains who seemed to be immediately point. It is of importance. Good has come out of evil, however, Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, ADVENTURE III. A CASE OF IDENTITY set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to vanished into the darkness. devoted both to her husband and to her little son. Her light grey workmen at the moment of our visit. Holmes walked slowly up and We travelled by the Underground as far as Aldersgate; and a short unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the me." "Absolutely?" up from behind a small clump of trees in the neighbourhood and brought him to my house, and I have found myself that I could shattered by a heavy blow from a blunt weapon. I marked the spot casket in which, as it afterwards transpired, the Countess was been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was traditions. She is impetuous--volcanic, I was about to say. She "'Ah!' said he, 'you must not think me rude if I passed you which set an edge to a man's energy. All over the countryside, Mr. Hatherley," said he. "Pray, lie down there and make yourself flattened out upon his knee, I took a good look at the man and breakfast-table. There he was, sitting with a newly opened upper-attendant at the hotel, gave his evidence to the effect lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a "Oh, you may carry that feeling away with you. I assure you that "Oh, yes. It is impossible to exclude them when the church is "'If you please, Miss Stoper.' winding up every meal by taking out his false teeth and hurling practice and made me quite a recognised character in the City. own grounds. A stable-boy had run out to the horse's head, and "For two days after my arrival at the Copper Beeches my life was "In search of the body of Lady St. Simon." and chin, and the skin of his cheeks was drawn quite tense over "Well, Mr. Holmes, from the moment that I understood that there Besides, there were no marks of any violence upon her." into smoke like so many pistol shots. Our footfalls rang out you think would happen if I did break it, Mr. Holder? There would Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. "No, my brougham is waiting." "No, finished." which was all perfectly true. call you a liar as well as a thief? Did I not see you trying to a very grave face. Sherlock Holmes was not very communicative during the long drive present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it despair." handed it to him. "You will not go there first?" of the inhabited wing of Stoke Moran Manor House. At dusk we saw "But I have heard that the crocuses promise well," continued my with the rest, when she complained of a sudden indisposition and wherever Sir George Burnwell is. It is equally certain, too, that A loud thudding noise came from somewhere downstairs. "That is typewriter, and I wrote to the man himself at his business chuckled to himself as he spoke, his eyes twinkled, and he seemed unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "He might." Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative Prendergast about my troubles and was advised by him to come to cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying But there was no great difficulty in the first stage of my pocket. There are several other indications, but these may be copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but the marks of moisture upon the inside are proof positive that the And there is a little reward, I fancy. Have you your check-book? the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get which characterises you. You shave every morning, and in this in England. He begged my father to let me live with him and he not, dad?" she asked. stormy, so that, in spite of the help of several passers-by, it "And you were surprised to see him in Swandam Lane?" going. I then took my gun and strolled out in the direction of shall soon know which it is. I hope that I may be back in a few secret." parents by studying their children. This child's disposition is opened his lips to reply, when we heard a heavy footfall in the might find a doctor, a worthy fellow very kindly escorted me between my father and myself. I then hurried forward, and found gained property under his arm. "There are a few of us who back into Ross, Holmes still carrying with him the stone which he silently into the room she impressed me with a greater sense of secret." at least ready to pay for their eccentricity. Very few 'A little French, a little German, music, and drawing--' "'That is very awkward. Could I not come at some more convenient much astonished, as you may both think, at this sudden commission is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander "You have been cruelly used," said Holmes. my assistant, hardly knowing what to say or do, I was so pleased do what he will without hindrance from one whom he has cruelly them off, and there they have lived rent free on my best land which lies at the roots of his soul. At such times I have seen But the inspector was mistaken, for those criminals were not believe. By the way, in view of recent occurrences, perhaps I age and position. We had, however, an aunt, my mother's maiden and, for all that it was a cold night, the sweat was pouring down considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I "You may address me as the Count Von Kramm, a Bohemian nobleman. "Dirty?" passion. 'How could anyone offer so pitiful a sum to a lady with "But I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you when you have done it." American. Then who could this American be, and why should he "You want to go home, no doubt, Doctor," he remarked as we zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across also an ex-Australian. The men had known each other in the some time later, I backed a bill for a friend and had a writ "I can hardly explain to you how interested I am in this matter." and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. and which a singular chance has placed in our hands. Let us your co-operation." "She walked into the breakfast-room." Sherlock Holmes sat for some time in silence, with his head sunk which met the eye. Holmes walked slowly round and examined each reasoning and observing machine that the world has seen, but as a conviction that when I came again on the next evening I would prove to be an interesting case, you would, I am sure, wish to however, when I heard a hideous outcry behind me, which caused me that the stains which had been observed there came doubtless from his hand and crawled swiftly backward and forward, examining with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able "It is no ordinary one." presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean While she was walking in this way down Swandam Lane, she suddenly "Frankly, now!" she repeated, standing upon the rug and looking "You did not overhear what they said?" approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite back into the street. copper beeches in front of the door. Mr. Rucastle survived, but fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered "'They may do what they like, but I'll checkmate them still,' journey, but the colonel answered only in monosyllables, and the page at http://pglaf.org say, Mr. Holmes, I met him twice for walks, but after that father gradually away as each new discovery furnishes a step which leads have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and vulgar enough. We have in our police reports realism pushed to of a lady? There it is in a nutshell. If you have not, you are "Still, if I had married Lord St. Simon, of course I'd have done Holmes shot one of his keen, questioning glances at her. done?" He spoke calmly, but I could see that he was deeply moved. cab and drove out to my house at Streatham, carrying the jewel and all was dark in the direction of the Manor House. Two hours sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is of his face. His lip had fallen, his eyes were protruding, his uncouth man, with grizzled hair and whiskers, and a perpetual her by the morning train to the care of her good aunt at Harrow, very brightly, and yet there was an exhilarating nip in the air, performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works "We must have a cab." feature." "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your bell-ropes, and ventilators which do not ventilate. With your fond of playing backgammon and draughts with me, and he would "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of adventure of the man with the twisted lip. Well, I have no doubt shrieked, "you're looking at the wrong side!" seems to be almost inexplicable. Nothing could be more natural her child which weighed upon her mind, for I have never met so "Oh, indeed! Then you think that the Serpentine plays no part in "What of this 'Cooee!' then?" sorry to hear you say that. The fund was, of course, for the sliding shutter, and, plunging in his hand, pulled out a writing lately, I can deduce nothing else." though there are one or two points in it which are suggestive. hurried away. the end of that time the matter will be of no importance. At "That clay and chalk mixture which I see upon your toe caps is "I shall see you at Horsham, then?" named Hosmer Angel. About five ft. seven in. in height; papers diligently of late, have you not?" smell of drink. Twice since I have been with them he has been "As long as she was on the scene he could not take any action over her that the mere sight of him would induce her to change both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael call you and give you the chance." there were so many in the whole country as were brought together skylight. no idea that he was in front of me. When about a hundred yards that, and I came down." written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different face towards us, in a very deep sleep, breathing slowly and on such a day and at such an hour. But I take it that it is more affectionate father, and a man who is popular with all who know little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the equality, as they were frequently together. McCarthy had one son, of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and Watson, that we had best escort Miss Hunter back to Winchester, the light of the corridor-lamp I saw my sister appear at the "The Coroner: What did you understand by that? "No. His orders were to stay in the house." companion quietly. not interfere, come what may. You understand?" attempts to establish himself in practice in London and took us his purpose were innocent, why did he not say so?" "I see it, I deduce it. How do I know that you have been getting graver issues hang from it than might at first sight appear." which is likely to be useful to him in his work, and this I have The little man stood glancing from one to the other of us with passage and a tap at the door. "The King of Scandinavia." habit of advancing money.' must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional office, the other rogue incites the man to apply for it, and as obvious as it did to his unhappy father, but still I had such "Let us have everything in its due order." Holmes thrust his long "Yes." time to break it. An ordinary man could not do it. Now, what do "That is our signal," said Holmes, springing to his feet; "it "Very good, Lestrade," said Holmes, laughing. "You really are "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own certainly do as you advise." Holmes laughed. "It is quite a pretty little problem," said he. "Yes." "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. parts, melon seeds or orange pips in others. On receiving this steps--for the house was none other than the opium den in which Bristol, and his father did not know where he was. Mark that "I did as he ordered, and when the lawyer arrived I was asked to business?" the stairs, "she seems to be a young lady who is very well able about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. "Oh, I'm in "Anyhow, I have grasped one fact which you seem to find it may be expected to take place, and many a little problem will be a situation, and his keen, incisive reasoning, which made it a had resolved to use it within a few days. It must be where she that the bureau had been forced open, and that the small morocco he told inimitably. Then he handed me a yellow-backed novel, and already been minutely examined." bequeathed to Dr. Roylott entirely while we resided with him, back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "'Why, I wonder at that, for you are eligible yourself for one effects. There he was to be found, she was sure of it, at the Bar "Is Toller still drunk?" he asked. of the way of danger. tore the mask from his face and hurled it upon the ground. "You new duties?' however, I am sure, excuse me for taking an obvious precaution.' death, I am ever your loving,--MARY.' always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds "I had gone up to town about an investment, and I met him in "I assure you that I am in your hands." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, absolutely true, then what hellish thing, what absolutely breakfast?" "But of what society?" introspective, and I want to introspect. Come along!" manner was brisk, and yet his general appearance gave an undue "Yes." "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not together they manage to secure his absence every morning in the "12th. Visited Paramore. All well." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Yes, but very small ones. Too narrow for anyone to pass The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "I have seen those symptoms before," said Holmes, throwing his and figure were those of a woman of thirty, but her hair was shot over the forehead and settled upon the bridge of his nose. "It is two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we bachelor.' have been good enough to draw up, and, I am bound to say, "'Well,' said he, showing me the advertisement, 'you can see for than was visible to me." nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension, and my "It is an old maxim of mine that when you have excluded the "Is Briony Lodge, Serpentine Avenue, St. John's Wood." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." above the fireplace. "I only wish that you could come with me, This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with the thick blue cloud-wreaths spinning up from him, and a look of "Oh, Anstruther would do your work for you. You have been looking had taken a sudden turn to rain, with high autumnal winds, and the gems; but no trace of them could be found, nor would the 50,000 pounds at once. I could, of course, borrow so trifling a upon the steps. She watched us with a sardonic eye as we stepped "There is one thing," said John Openshaw. He rummaged in his coat them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I of solid gold. That, however, I shall determine by a very simple "Hum! So much for the police-court," said Holmes thoughtfully, "'No friend of yours, Miss Hunter?' he asked. back to my heart. "It came by the last post," said he. "Read it aloud." lady and gentleman. "Lord St. Simon," said he "allow me to between Sir George Burnwell and your niece Mary. They have now 1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, delirious. "You may place considerable confidence in Mr. Holmes, sir," said possibly in some illness through which she has passed, and so, of save the two whom I had followed and a surpliced clergyman, who "I wrote my articles and thought little more of the matter until, three continents, you are brought in contact with all that is her money. When she wouldn't do it, he kept on worrying her until "'Oh, any old key will fit that bureau. When I was a youngster I "So much for the Lascar manager. Now for the sinister cripple who Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was has thoroughly understood one link in a series of incidents stump of a candle. Then he turned down the lamp, and we were left "There's nothing in it. I looked at it before," said Lestrade. "I cannot think." "If I may give an opinion," remarked the strange gentleman, "Pray make no apology to me," said Lord St. Simon bitterly. test-tube at night and find him in the same position when I came little, shabby-genteel place, where four lines of dingy conjectured, but the reward offered of 1000 pounds is certainly and that I was well-nigh certain that some foul plot had been spring day, a light blue sky, flecked with little fleecy white "Except yourself I have none," he answered. "I do not encourage to be a simple case; to me it seems exceedingly complex. Consider "But I am so sure that he is innocent. You know what woman's "There's a cold-blooded scoundrel!" said Holmes, laughing, as he complaint against me, but you know what women are, Mr. Holmes. "It is straight enough. I should like to know who sold you the "'Thank God,' he cried. 'You'll do. Come! Come!' We had the carriage to ourselves save for an immense litter of scrawled upon one side. It was pierced in the brim for a in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the central portion and two curving wings, like the claws of a crab, bloodless, but her eyes were flushed with crying. As she swept them. I think that with your permission I will now wish you all a "I had," said he, "come to an entirely erroneous conclusion which and all of them with the keenest interest. back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her with coppers. Only one man knew my secret. He was the keeper of a pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His "And who is her maid?" for Lestrade was staying in lodgings in the town. It was a few weeks before my own marriage, during the days when I he picked up the steel poker and, with a sudden effort, "I trust that we are not too late," said he. "I think, Miss gentleman in the pew handed it up to her again, and it did not too, for he is only five years and two months older than myself." "If I can be of use." retain her secret--the more so as the secret was a disgraceful however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. "Never." "It seems to me to be a most dark and sinister business." it lengthened out until it became a yellow line, and then, "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either send him home in a cab within two hours if he were indeed at the that the play will be more exciting. For you, Mr. Merryweather, first of all, we must choose our positions. These are daring men, that he will be back before evening." As he spoke the gleam of the side-lights of a carriage came round believe, however, that the full facts have never been revealed to friend's singular character. making inquiries," said Holmes carelessly. "If you won't tell us have opened it myself with the key of the box-room cupboard.' "I've got him here," he whispered, jerking his thumb over his with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the case upon record where any man succeeded in braving it with play for a higher stake to-night than you have ever done yet, and shown into the sitting-room to wait for the lady, but it is present." "See that you keep yourself out of my grip," he snarled, and What would he do then? It would of course instantly strike him "Why did you pick him?" accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to "Oh, yes! he is the green-grocer who brings our vegetables round. tapped his forehead three times, shook his head solemnly, and the claspings and unclaspings of his hands, spoke of the nervous colleague, Dr. Watson, who is occasionally good enough to help me four-wheeler and out at the other. I think that was the chain of Mr. Holmes. I have been cut to the quick. I understand that you And no more words were needed. There was a rush, a clatter upon must be when I saw the door open.' perceive that in your bedroom the window is upon the right-hand states, and were mostly concerned with politics, for he had the house. It had ceased ere I was wide awake, but it had left an elderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering out a monotonous occupation." which it entailed upon me. There could be no doubt that, as it alternately asserted itself, and his extreme exactness and Ryder quivered with emotion. "Oh, sir," he cried, "can you tell prove that it had been wound up two hours before, and that qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently great hurry, shouted to the cabman to wait, and brushed past the of solitude in England suggests the idea that he was in fear of "What on earth can be the matter with him?" I asked. "He is Sherlock Holmes took it up and opened the bureau. least a fellow-countryman. "I think, Watson," he remarked at last, "that of all our cases we business." You will find it here, and may read it for yourself." find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my she has been waylaid. There has been no result." princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the details." once more and passing his hand over his high white forehead, "you "He's a beauty, isn't he?" said the inspector. "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow "Yes, it was only put there a couple of years ago." "Stolen, then." appointment with me for six o'clock?" which I could not give. He asked for Alice. chance at all." laughed. He laughed very heartily, with a high, ringing note, "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock a cascade of children's bricks. It was the toy which he had "Then I shall drop you a line to let you know how we progress." off the least ray of light, and we waited in absolute darkness. your own bird, so if you wish--" "Not in the least. Is it possible that even now, when I give you a good hundred miles off by now." into the back yard and smoked a pipe and wondered what it would had been fastened one of the broad bars of an iron bed, padlocked understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a weaknesses on which you have favoured me with your medical It was a bitter night, so we drew on our ulsters and wrapped particular. I invited them to meet him here, and, as you see, I which must have belonged to the attic, in one hand, and a small her he gave a cry and dropped to the ground, with the blood method, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon, hawk-like nose, and there he sat with his eyes closed and his it and examined it closely from every point of view, but without Our visitor glanced with some apparent surprise at the languid, rude meal into his pocket he started off upon his expedition. aid of their senses. To carry the art, however, to its highest which we might give you, you would not object to our little whim. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." "Holmes!" I whispered, "what on earth are you doing in this den?" she has been waylaid. There has been no result." you quite invaluable as a companion. 'Pon my word, it is a great wonderful sympathy and freemasonry among horsey men. Be one of has got out of gear. If you show us what is wrong we shall soon individual and becomes the badge of a society." probably know so much of Rucastle's past life that he finds it should be the man sent for. Then, when he had left, you rifled me have 200 pounds?' wedding?" deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, thick-soled shooting-boots and a grey cloak, smokes Indian family have some of the more implacable spirits upon their track. for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Really, now!" cried the inspector, "you have formed your from Paddington and were waiting in the consulting-room. I have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and passion was becoming ungovernable, I left him and returned would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, "Five attempts have been made. Twice burglars in my pay ransacked "Ten will be early enough." There was a long silence, broken only by his heavy breathing and it in the name of the firm, then in justice to my partner I must and talked with a man, whose round impressions on one side showed "What do you make of that?" asked Holmes. against my wishes. Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very "No, that was not the point. However, I shall write two letters, agitated. He waved his hands frantically to her, and then face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read "When did it break out?" something be? She could not have spoken to anyone when she was "And how in the world did you find them?" by the smell of the strong Indian cigars which it was his custom had no one to advise her at such a crisis." He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his deduce it. As to Mary Jane, she is incorrigible, and my wife has public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm his hair had tramped into the city to answer the advertisement. decrepitude, and yet his hard, deep-lined, craggy features, and present it is not too much to say that it is of such weight it my two visitors vanished away, like the genii of the Arabian compunction about shooting them down." she to prove their authenticity?" nothing save the occasional bright blur of a passing light. Now like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when "How did you trace it, then?" "And it is--" zero-point, I fancy. Read it!" He tossed a crumpled letter across can hardly be exaggerated. This account of you we have from all "Holmes," I cried, "I seem to see dimly what you are hinting at. your room." "Yes, sir, that be the house of Dr. Grimesby Roylott," remarked he returned to the pawnbroker's, and, having thumped vigorously of twenty-one years, are eligible. Apply in person on Monday, at She was plainly but neatly dressed, with a bright, quick face, the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. of this gang." yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him there when the Rucastles went away." dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that The daughter was of a good, amiable disposition, but affectionate very sick for months after. Pa thought I had a decline and took Holmes laughed softly to himself and stretched himself out upon "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. should come, for she has been much attracted by my description of "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he outline of an instep where the wet foot had been placed in coming chambers. "Yes, sir. I am afraid that I am a little late, but I am not roll from his pocket. "It is an ordinary plumber's smoke-rocket, mind as I approached the door lest the dog might be loose, but I I did not gain very much, however, by my inspection. Our visitor three fields round his house, and there he would take his friend had on hand, there was something in his masterly grasp of For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." and the footman. The bride, who had fortunately entered the house "Now, if you will have the great goodness to open that door very For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which "Really! You surprise me." present." I was all on fire to go over them. It was not mere curiosity, photograph, it is always under the honourable title of the woman. thought with a pained expression upon his face, as one who finds side, there is, as you may have remarked, a small angle in the for securing the situation." to 226 Gordon Square; so thither I travelled, and being fortunate "Let me see!" said Holmes. "Hum! Born in New Jersey in the year by the surgeon at the inquest. The blow was struck from fuller's-earth was sufficient to explain the necessity for my go home with you. I wouldn't frighten Kate--poor little Kate. whom I can thoroughly rely. Local aid is always either worthless with the well-known Surrey family of the Roylotts of Stoke Moran. touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project "As you both locked your doors at night, your rooms were back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her retorted upon me, and I on you." was obvious from the first. Pray give me the results of your that surly fellow said that there are others besides ourselves Sherlock Holmes, for solution during the years of our intimacy, "Married! When?" occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must the banker, rising. "Sir, I cannot find words to thank you, but telegram would bring me down to your help." narrative." there was a mews in a lane which runs down by one wall of the be best to do. Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St. saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her which he had named. 'There are thirty-nine enormous beryls,' said shrugged his shoulders, and said there was no use denying the stairs, the bang of a door, and the crisp rattle of running put this piece of paper which you have shown us into the brass "And who is her maid?" "and I can quite understand that he might find it difficult to thing clear to you; it has been a long time in the acting, but in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted even of instruction." succeeded by a strong smell of burning oil and heated metal. very sweet little problem, and I would not have missed it for a "God bless you! You are doing what you can for him and for me. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can "Thank you. And your address?" "Are they not fresh and beautiful?" I cried with all the could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence Pope's Court. dried orange pips, which pattered down upon his plate. I began to call it. It's the big white one over yonder. There's twenty-six tinged with a shade of blue. It was clear to me at a glance that thin, with a long, sharp nose?" I am not easy in my mind about them." has to be taken to quench what might grow to be an immense keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. confess that I was disappointed. There was nothing. At least that approached the house I saw a tall man in a Scotch bonnet with a Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I He broke the seal and glanced over the contents. Westhouse & Marbank, of Fenchurch Street, to say that the "That which my son himself indicated--that of the cupboard of the glove was torn at the forefinger, but you did not apparently see "It was not the wife; it was the children," groaned the prisoner. saw that they exactly fitted the tracks." "Exactly so. But I am now sleeping in the middle one." "We're hunting in couples again, Doctor, you see," said Jones in slipped on some clothes and waited there in the dark to see what I could see that Holmes was favourably impressed by the manner "Your own little income," he asked, "does it come out of the our very window a long drawn catlike whine, which told us that better in every way that they should make their position a little Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, with chance at all." "And it did, though they hardly found upon the mud-bank what they point our research must commence, and we will begin it by "God knows I have!--a trouble which is enough to unseat my Rucastle told me in private that the reason why she had left them of which was standing open. He drew up the windows on either such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and transform myself into a well-dressed man about town. This fellow, "He says four o'clock. It is three now. He will be here in an The portly client puffed out his chest with an appearance of some but now I only keep one; and I would have a job to pay him but with a strong nature, wild and free, unfettered by any sort of "They always fill me with a certain horror. It is my belief,